The Year So Far and the Rest of the Season

#27
#27
14-17 wins, 3-4 will come down to the final 60 seconds of play.

Bottom line: if we carry the fight like we did for 39 minutes against UNC we will be just fine in getting to around .500.

The team is young but I'm pleased with showings thus far from Turner, Bowden, Williams, Fulk and ...never thought I would say it, but HUBBS.
 
#28
#28
I have been very impressed with the play of the vols so far this season for being so undersized. I REALLY like coach Barnes. The vols will surprise a few teams this season. They play with high intensity and never quit.
 
#29
#29
I'll take a winning season but I'll say it right now.......12 SEC wins wouldn't shock me.
 
#31
#31
I'd like to see Barnes ask a little more of Phillips offensively, I think he's a little timid at times and maybe that's in part because of him having to play some point. He's shooting 72% from 3 on the year with a pretty solid sample size, and when you include all of last year he's currently a 44% three point shooter. Now, part of why he shoots such a high percentage is he takes very good shots, but he's also a damn good shooter to go with that. Maybe when Bone gets back and Phillips plays primarily off the ball he'll look to score more, was just a thought I had when looking at some stats earlier.
 
#33
#33
bleedingTNorange said:
I'd like to see Barnes ask a little more of Phillips offensively, I think he's a little timid at times and maybe that's in part because of him having to play some point. He's shooting 72% from 3 on the year with a pretty solid sample size, and when you include all of last year he's currently a 44% three point shooter. Now, part of why he shoots such a high percentage is he takes very good shots, but he's also a damn good shooter to go with that. Maybe when Bone gets back and Phillips plays primarily off the ball he'll look to score more, was just a thought I had when looking at some stats earlier.
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And right on cue Phillips goes 2-2 from 3
 
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#34
#34
I'll say this much...I have had doubts going into the season. An overall mediocre recruiting class, a lot of youth, and no real upperclassmen leadership except maybe Hubbs...

Barnes has FAR exceeded my expectations. If anything, this proves he is the opposite of Butch. He sure knows how to coach. He has gotten the best he can from this team, which honestly only has 2-3 really talented players. The rest I feel like have been coached up, which is what you want.

I'm hoping that this translates to success on the recruiting trail as kids see how close this youthful TN team is to beating two Top 10 teams, and the fact that they are lead by a veteran coach who has put numerous players in the league. I think if he even has a slight uptick in recruiting the next 2 years, we are on track for a special 5-10 years under Barnes.

As far as the rest of the season goes, it's hard to say. I could see us go 12-4 just as easily as we could go 6-10. This team is just young. What I do know is they play extremely tough and with a ton of energy. To fight against 4 Top 25 teams and have come close to beating most of them is impressive. I think this team will surprise a lot in league play, because let's be honest, the SEC is mediocre outside of Kentucky. We just have to show more consistency.
 
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#37
#37
bleedingTNorange said:
Cautiously optimistic.
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Makes me more excited to watch them. Still one game at a time. But gives me a little more hope this season isnt a complete loss. 8-5 but could very well be 10-3 right now with wins over Oregon and North Carolina. What if what if i know. But this team is most definitely further along than we all thought. They are competing at a very high level. And if any team gets a lead on them. Its not safe thats for sure.
 
#38
#38
cwbytruckers said:
After the road win at A&M how do you all feel about conference play now?
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I said I needed to see this team win a true road game before I would change my modestly low expectations. Well, they won two in a row; one on the road against an inferior in-state opponent who probably viewed that game as their Super Bowl, and against an SEC team picked to finish 3rd in the conference.

So, I still think this team will struggle with playing up or down to their opponents at times, and I have to think they will struggle against teams on the road at some point as well, BUT you have to think they may just be better than any of us credited them with being preseason. They have yet to really play with a full roster due to injuries, so I think if they hopefully get healthy that a +.500 SEC record and an NIT bid is certainly a realistic goal.
 
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#39
#39
cncchris33 said:
I said I needed to see this team win a true road game before I would change my modestly low expectations. Well, they won two in a row; one on the road against an inferior in-state opponent who probably viewed that game as their Super Bowl, and against an SEC team picked to finish 3rd in the conference.

So, I still think this team will struggle with playing up or down to their opponents at times, and I have to think they will struggle against teams on the road at some point as well, BUT you have to think they may just be better than any of us credited them with being preseason. They have yet to really play with a full roster due to injuries, so I think if they hopefully get healthy that a +.500 SEC record and an NIT bid is certainly a realistic goal.
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Agree 100%. I still have a hard time seeing us beat teams with at least 2 guys of 6'9+ in the starting lineup, but Williams is some sort of prodigy man boy apparently, so I don't know wtf to think besides GO VOLS!
 
#40
#40
Chris4Vols22 said:
Agree 100%. I still have a hard time seeing us beat teams with at least 2 guys of 6'9+ in the starting lineup, but Williams is some sort of prodigy man boy apparently, so I don't know wtf to think besides GO VOLS!
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Two things...

1. A&M did start 2 guys taller than 6'9", AND had a guy 6'10" coming off the bench, yet these Vols still found a way to win, on the road even.

2. I'm curious how many SEC teams start 2 guys 6'9" plus, I'm thinking more dont than do, but just a complete guess.
 
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#42
#42
bleedingTNorange said:
Two things...

1. A&M did start 2 guys taller than 6'9", AND had a guy 6'10" coming off the bench, yet these Vols still found a way to win, on the road even.

2. I'm curious how many SEC teams start 2 guys 6'9" plus, I'm thinking more dont than do, but just a complete guess.
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It takes some time to figure out, but Florida's 6 with the most mpg, for example, go 6'6", 6'8", 6'8", and 6'11".

2016-17 Florida Gators Roster and Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Sort on mpg column and roster with heights are higher up on the page.
 
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